VICTORY over visitors Beddau tonight and Cross Keys can really start pushing for a top-five finish in the Championship rather than worrying about the threat of back-to-back relegations, writes David Williams.

Keys may sit just one place above their opponents in the league table going into the Pandy Park clash (kick-off 7.30pm), but they could be as many as 14 points better off come the final whistle.

Ystalyfera, Tata Steel, Trebanos and Beddau are the four sides currently facing the drop, with nine points separating Morgan Stoddart’s in-form Keys from the danger zone.

“This is a big game for us,” said head coach Stoddart.

“A win would be massive because it would extend the gap between us and the bottom four.

“We could then start to look at the teams above us rather than what is happening below.”

He added: “We’ve got a couple of tough games left against Pontypool and Bargoed, but we’ve got a very good chance of winning the other 10.

“We’ve still got Beddau, Ystalyfera and Narberth to play twice, as well as Trebanos, Tata Steel and Neath, so we’ve already played a lot of the top teams twice.”

Stoddart is without forwards Spencer Gibson and Scott Andrews for this evening’s game, but club stalwart Tom Lampard is set for a first start after returning from injury.

Keys were last in action two Saturday ago when they kept a clean sheet in a 24-0 triumph at Glamorgan Wanderers.

“We’ve conceded three points in our last two, so you can see how hard the boys are working on their defence,” said Stoddart. “They’re enjoying the defensive side of things.

“We pretty much dominated the game against the Wanderers, and probably left a few tries out there which could have made it a bigger win.

“Some of the younger lads had never played at Championship level before this season, but you can see their game management improving with the help of the experienced boys.”